The door to opportunity swings on the hinges of opposition. Caleb Colton said, “Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is the one elicited from the darkest storm.” Problems are the price of progress. The obstacles of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.
Obstacles are merely a call to strengthen your resolve to achieve worthwhile goals. Bob Harrison says, “Between you and anything significant will be giants in your path.” Oral Roberts reflects, “You cannot bring about renewal or change without confrontation.” The truth is, if you like things easy, you will have difficulties. If you like problems, you will succeed.
If you have a dream without aggravations, you don’t really have a dream. Have the attitude of Louisa May Alcott: “I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship.” Samuel Lover said, “Circumstances are the rulers of the weak; but they are the instruments of the wise.” The Chinese have a proverb that says, “The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.” It seems that great trials are the necessary preparation for greatness.
What attitude do we need to have toward difficulties? William Boetcker said, “The difficulties and struggles of today are but the best price we must pay for the accomplishment and victory of tomorrow.” Lou Holtz advised, “Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn’t make me stronger.”
When you encounter obstacles you will discover things about yourself that you never really knew. Challenges make you stretch; they make you go beyond the norm. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Turning an obstacle to your advantage is the first necessary step towards victory.
Charles Kettering said, “No one would have crossed the ocean if he could of gotten off the ship in the storm.” The breakfast of champions is not cereal; it’s obstacles.
Posted By: Jeannette Collins
Thursday, December 4th 2008 at 10:09AM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
